Appliance for closing foil capsules on bottles



F. WHITE Jan. 15, 1963 APPLIANCE FOR CLOSING FOIL CAPSULES 0N BOTTLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY$ G B M F T O m w 7// V 2 9 I 3 5 .85 \3 7 6 I. 8 8 I- 1 4 2 w 7 6 92 2 5 9 0 2 m w ling 7 V B Filed June 22, 1959 Jan. 15, 1963 F. WHITE 3,073,088

APPLIANCE FOR CLOSING FOIL CAPSULES ON BOTTLES Filed June 22, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 25 INVENTOR 4o 43 FRED WHITE 36 37 38 39 Y 42 ATTORNEY 'This invention relates -to apparatus for closing cup shapedfoil capsules of thin pliablematerial on to the tops of'bottles'to form a seal. Such foil capsules are common- "ly used on wine bottles to enhance their appearance and to act as pilfer proof seals. The normal method of fitting them to the bottles is by a squeezing process whereby the bottle neck, over which a capsule is loosely fitted, is inserted into a hollow collapsible rubber hood which is then contracted by externally applied hydraulic pressure there- .:by closing the capsule on to the bottle top. In bottling plants using a conveyor system and fully automatic machinery, capsuling is generally carried out by a mechanically operated machine which runs continuously. Where output does not merit the expense of such machinery capsuling is carried out by a hand fed appliance. The present invention relates to this latter class of appliance. It is common in hand fed appliances for the operator .to insert the bottle neck intoa collapsible rubber hood which is in a horizontal position so that the bottle must be lifted and tilted. Not only is this wasteful of time and energy but there is a further disadvantage in that a loose capsule will have a tendency to drop slightly When the bottle is tilted so causing the bottom edge of the capsule to be out of square with the bottle. The inventive idea embodied in this new apparatus shows a way to overcome these disadvantages by first arranging that the capsuling is carried out with the bottle in a vertical position so that it is not necessary to lift the bottle and also by arranging the entire sequence of operations to be performed automatically once only each time a bottle is pr sented. By arranging the capsuling head to lower, squeeze, then lift and stop, the appliance adjusts itself to the operators speed of bottle handling.

The accompanying drawings show one embodiment of the invention in which FIGURE 1 is a front sectional elevation showng the capsuling head in its normally raised position and a bottle having a capsule loosely fitted placed ready. FIGURE 2 shows a side elevation in section along the line AA of FIGURE 1 of the same embodiment but with the capsuling head lowered over the bottle prior to squeezing. FIGURE 2 also shows the air control equipment for triggering the cycle of operations.

The appliance as illustrated in FIGURE 1 comprises an actuating means including a reciprocating means such as air cylinder 1 having a ram 2 which is able to move downwards and upwards as air is applied to each side of the cylinder piston The cylinder is mounted rigidly on bars 3 which in turn are fixed to guides 4. Operating means comprising piston housings 5, pistons 6, diaphragms 9, springs 10, diaphragm housings 11, diaphragm chambers 21 and connecting pipes 19 are provided. Piston housings 5 in which pistons 6 are free to slide, are also rigidly connected to guides 4. Toggle links 7 are hinged at one end to pistons 6 and at the other end to pressure jaw 8 in a manner allowing diaphragms 9 to move outwards compressing springs 111 when pressure jaw 8 is depressed. Diaphragm housings 11 are clamped to support bars 12 by clamp bolts 13 which can be loosened to allow vertical adjustment for bottle height. Support bars 12 register in base 14. Capsuling head 15 completely encloses rubber hood 16 which is held in position by screwed cap 17 and end plug 18. Means for transmitting the fluid pressure generated within the diaphragm housings .11 to the external surface of the hood 16 are provided'in the form of flexible pipes 19 connecting the capsuling'head 15 to each of the diaphragm housings 11 and are of sufiicient length to allow head '15 to move freelydownwards asuitable distance Removeable filler plugs 20allow diaphragm chambers 21, head chamber 22 and the connecting pipes 19 to be completely filled with a suitable liquid for the purpose of transferring hydraulic pressure to the outside of rubber hood 16.

FIGURE 2 of the same embodiment shows "air valve 22 attached to cylinder 1 in a manner which allows compressed air to be switched to either side of the cylinder piston. This air valve 22 is of the balanced plunger'type suitable for remote .control. 'It has an air surrounded plunger which becomes unbalanced and shifts its position as air is bled momentarily from one or other side. In so shifting the plunger uncovers ports to allow air to enter one or other side of the air cylinder piston. Unbalancing of the air valve plunger iscarried out by momentary contact on bleed valve 25 through pipe 26 or momentary contact on bleed valve '28 through pipe 29. Thus the bleed valve 28 serves as a-means responsive to the operation of said operating means for activating said actuating means, i.e,, air cylinder 1, to deactivate the operating means and move the capsuling head upward to the inoperative position. The aforementioned valves are not shown in section since this method of control is well known and such equipment is readily available.

Pressure bar, or pressure head,.30 is connected rigidly to ram 2 and has holes in either side .corresponding with those in pressure jaw 8 and guides 4, through which lifting rods 31 slide freely to allow up and down motion to the capsuling head 15. Bracket 32 is mounted on base 14 in a position suited to allow stops 33 to locate the bottle directly under the capsuling head 15. There is also provided means for responding to the location of the bottle under said capsuling head for activating the air cylinder 1 to move the ram 2 downwardly. Such means comprises bottle button 34, stem 36, spring 35, trigger 37, spring 39, projection 41) and bleed valve 25. Bottle button 34 on slidably mounted stem 36 is pressed against the bottle by spring 35. Trigger 3'7 pivoted at 38 in the jaw end of stem 36, is lightly spring loaded at 39 to bring its stop projection 40 in contact with the top of jaw end of stem 36.

Operation of the appliance is as follows:

When at rest with the air supply turned on cylinder ram 2 is in its uppermost position with pressure bar 30 raised and holding capsuling head 15 by the shoulders 41 on lifting rods 31. Bottle button 34 is held forward of stops 33 and shoulder 42 is against the face of bracket 32. In this position the sloping surface 43 of trigger 37 is on the opposite side of bleed valve 25 to that shown in FIG- URE 2. When the bottle standing on surface 44 is moved towards stops 33 it first encounters bottle button 34 moving the sloping surface 43 across the operating button of bleed valve 25 to give a momentary signal to main air valve 22. By the time the bottle reaches the stops 33 trigger 37 will have passed bleed valve 25 to the position shown in FIGURE 2. At this point motion downwards of pressure bar 30 will have commenced allowing capsuling head 15 to drop by its own weight until it is arrested by the bottle top and capsule contacting end plug 18. The air cylinder stroke is arranged to be greater than the distance which capsuling head 15 drops so that further movement brings pressure bar 30 in contact with pressure jaw 8 thus creating fluid pressure in chambers 21 and 22 to close rubber hood 16 against the bottle and capsule. Bleed valve 28 is adjustably mounted in pressure jaw 8, and moves with it until contact is made with guide 4. By raising or lowering the relative position of bleed valve 28 in pressure jaw 8 control of the fluid pressure can be eflt'ected. Valve 22 is reversed immediately contact is made between valve 28 and guide 4 so returning the air cylinder ram to its initial position. On this return stroke fluid pressure is released before the capsuling head is raised by virture of the space between pressure bar 30 shoulder 41. When ram 2 has returned no further movement takes place until valve 25 is again contacted by presenting a fresh bottle. On removing the capsuled bottle trigger 37 tilts on pivot 38 compressing light spring 39 to allow the trigger to return without operating valve 25.

The embodiment described can be subject to variations, as for instance, the appliance can be arranged to function with only one diaphragm assembly. In this case the diaphragm assembly could be positioned differently. Also .the air valve equipment could be altered so as to use electrically operated micro switches for remote control of a solenoid operated main air valve. These variations are self explanatory and do not require further drawings since the principle involved remains substantially as described.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are described as follows:

1. An apparatus for closing foil capsules on tops of bottles, comprising a frame, a capsuling head adapted for movement in the gravitational field between an operative position in which the capsuling head engages with the top ofa capsuled bottle and an inoperative position above said operative position, said capsuling head having a weight that tends to cause it to seek said operative position and being operable to close a capsule on the top of a bottle underlying said capsuling head in said operative position, actuating means including a pressure head adapted to lift said capsuling head to said inoperative position and support it in said inoperative position prior to said jcapsuled bottle being located to underlie said capsuling head and adapted to release said capsuling head to fall by its own weight to said operative position and engage With said capsuled bottle when said bottle is located to underlie said capsuling head, operating means responsive to movement of said pressure head after release of said capsuling head and movement thereof to said operative position for operating said capsuling head to close said capsule on said bottle, means responsive to the location of a bottle under said capsuling head for activating said actuating means to release said capsuling head, and means responsive to further movement of said pressure head for activating said actuating means to deactivate said operating means and to move said capsuling head to the inoperative position.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said capsuling head includes a collapsible hood adapted to enclose the top of the capsuled bottle and operable to contract and close said capsule on said bottle by pressure applied to the external surface of said hood.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said operating means comprises at least one diaphragm mechanically operable by movement of said pressure head after release of said capsuling head and movement thereof to said operative position to generate fluid pressure and means for transmitting said pressure to the external surface of said hood.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,076,337 Gauthier Apr. 6, 1937 2,101,533 Cundall et al. Dec. 7, 1937 2,412,924 Stover Dec. 17, 1946 2,689,074 Price Sept. 14, 1954 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR CLOSING FOIL CAPSULES ON TOPS OF BOTTLES, COMPRISING A FRAME, A CAPSULING HEAD ADAPTED FOR MOVEMENT IN THE GRAVITATIONAL FIELD BETWEEN AN OPERATIVE POSITION IN WHICH THE CAPSULING HEAD ENGAGES WITH THE TOP OF A CAPSULED BOTTLE AND AN INOPERATIVE POSITION ABOVE SAID OPERATIVE POSITION, SAID CAPSULING HEAD HAVING A WEIGHT THAT TENDS TO CAUSE IT TO SEEK SAID OPERATIVE POSITION AND BEING OPERABLE TO CLOSE A CAPSULE ON THE TOP OF A BOTTLE UNDERLYING SAID CAPSULING HEAD IN SAID OPERATIVE POSITION, ACTUATING MEANS INCLUDING A PRESSURE HEAD ADAPTED TO LIFT SAID CAPSULING HEAD TO SAID INOPERATIVE POSITION AND SUPPORT IT IN SAID INOPERATIVE POSITION PRIOR TO SAID CAPSULED BOTTLE BEING LOCATED TO UNDERLIE SAID CAPSULING HEAD AND ADAPTED TO RELEASE SAID CAPSULING HEAD TO FALL BY ITS OWN WEIGHT TO SAID OPERATIVE POSITION AND ENGAGE WITH SAID CAPSULED BOTTLE WHEN SAID BOTTLE IS LOCATED TO UNDERLIE SAID CAPSULING HEAD, OPERATING MEANS RESPONSIVE 